R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?”
They answered him, “Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
They said to him, “We can.”
Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Do you have a preference to where you sit?  Is it important where you sit?

Think about all the events or happenings that involve seating.  You are sitting right now and, in all probabilities, you are sitting in YOUR seat.  Most of us sit in the same seat every Sunday (How do you think I know when you are here or not, you all make it too easy by sitting in the same seat).

The kids will fight over who get to sit in the front seat of the car or on the couch instead of the chair.

We care about where we sit at concerts, plays, movies or to a game.  Where we sit at such evets says something about who we might be or about how much money we may have.  We want “the BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE”.

A few years ago, Kathy and I went to Punta Cana and paid an extra fee to get to board the plane first and have front row seats.  Although we perhaps do not like to acknowledge it, we are people to care about where we sit.

Maybe this may help to explain the request of James and John when they asked for a seat at the right and left hand of Jesus.  They were looking ahead to the time when God’s kingdom would come and they did not want to be left out.

Today’s reading affirms the fact that the disciples were no difference that you and I at times.  They wanted a special favor from Jesus and granting places of honor at the right or left was not something Jesus could do.

Jesus responded with a healthy challenge to the disciples.  He challenged the disciples to instead become true servants of the Gospel, the exact same challenge that has been given to you and I.

We are to become servants, ministers and become disciples to one another.  To live our Baptismal Call.

Since our Baptism all of us have been called to serve and it is in serving others that we accomplish God’s will here on earth.  So this call to service and to minister one another is one that needs to be taken seriously and needs to be a part of our everyday lives.  It is our challenge that is not all that easy these days.

In fact, serving God and being a true disciple can be positively painful at times since it demands self-sacrifice, putting other first and perhaps not always getting our way and very often means working very hard and seldom getting acknowledged or thanked.  It means doing the unpopular but doing the right thing.  It mean dealing with personality conflicts and not always being right and it means giving of the two most valuable possessions, out time and ourselves.

Our model for this type of service is Christ Himself.  Christ is one who understood the pain and difficulty of service yet He continued throughout his life to be the ultimate servant.

Jesus knew rejection.  His own townspeople rejected Him, but he remained.  He is urging you and I to do the same even though we are sometimes ignored, taken advantage of or hurt and frustrated.

Jesus knew betrayal the same way we know the pain of being used by someone or using someone.  Jesus knew unfaithfulness as His best friend denied Him 3 times and we too at times have been unfaithful, Jesus knew the pain of being misunderstood.  The pain of gossip and slander.

And yet he continuously said yes.  He continued to carry on and He did not expect anything in return.  In today’s Gospel He is urging the disciples James and John and you and I to do the same.  It is not about sitting at all, it is about standing.

James and John are concerned with where they will sit at the end of all time.  Jesus responds by trying to explain that it is not where they sit that counts, but how and what and with whom they stand.

Jesus suffered and died because he always stood by those who were poor and the outcasts.  He stood for the values in the Kingdom of God.

Think of the many places in which we will stand this upcoming week.  The check out line, the front of a classroom, over a hot stove, conducting a meeting, or at your front door responding to an unexpected knock, how will be stand there?

As Jesus did, hopefully and openly, or as James and John, looking forward to something better.

Deacon Anthony Falasca, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

The difference between a statement and a question…Today’s Sacred Gospel reading begins with James and John making a statement to Jesus. This statement is not in the form of a question but rather as a command; “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

Who is the leader; and who is the follower? “We want you to do for us whatever we ask you to do.” They are not asking; they are telling. I venture to say most of us in our conversation with God have made demands of Him in much the same way. We want God to do this or that for us; we have come up with a plan of action and want God to do things our way.

James and John are no exception. They permit their self interests to obscure the true mission of Christ to be servant; to be a servant of all; not for personal gain, but to lay down one’s life for others in service and love.

There is a popular reality TV series called The Undercover Boss. If you’re not familiar with it it goes like this; high-level executives, CEOs, owners of corporations go undercover and pretend to be common employees. As such, they experience the true day-to-day operations of their companies often in demeaning working conditions. Many of these executives own multi-million dollar corporations yet get a taste of just what it’s like to be a lowly employee. Many realize how distant they have become to the very people who work thankless jobs so their companies can thrive and be Fortune 500 companies. They realize these and so many more employees are owed a great deal of gratitude and thanks. The undercover bosses are humbled by employees who give their all despite harsh working conditions or are dealing with personal struggles in their personal lives at home. Most, if not all of these bosses, come to recognize that as their companies grew they became distanced from their workers, employees, and sometimes, even their customers.

I can’t help but think of James and John being on the Undercover Boss. They approach Jesus with their demands yet Jesus must re-direct their actions to teach that true discipleship is rooted in serving not being served. They are not called to be CEOs in a corporate office but humble servants. Jesus redirects the Apostles and, in effect, challenges them to remember their beginnings and to never permit their authority to be lorded over others. They must remember their mission is to serve.

Pope Frances has made a similar message; the shepherd must smell like the sheep. He must be with the people and work among them; not remain in some office far removed from the sheep. The most praiseworthy assignment is no better than the smallest job we can carry out to identify ourselves with Christ. It is when we serve that we become the master; the master not over others, but we become master over our own selfishness. True love finds itself in serving others.

I recently spoke to a friend who shared an experience he had. His daily routine includes a morning walk regardless of season or weather: rain, snow, heat; nothing stops him from his daily walk. And he has a route that, according to him, never varies.

One morning though, for some odd reason, rather than taking a left at the corner he walked to the right. As he proceeded he came upon a car pulled to the curb with its trunk open, a tire iron, jack, and spare tire on the sidewalk beside the car. And next to the car was a young man who was searching his IPhone for directions on how to change the flat tire. My friend related to me that he continued past the car and, as he was preparing to turn at the corner, he thought better of it turned around and returned to the car. He said there were no words exchanged between him and the young man. He simply broke the lug nuts free, jacked up the car, removed the lug nuts, took off the flat, replaced it with the spare, tightened the lugs nuts, and lowered the car. The only words he spoke were, “Your spare is a little low on air. It will get you where you need to go. Stop at the gas station and make sure you have 32 pounds of pressure in the tire.” The young man nodded and with an outstretched arm offered him $30. My friend shook his head and replied, “That’s not how you help people. Help someone else some day.” and both went on their way.

This is what we are called to. Notice my friend initially walked past the young man; but turned back to help. And it wasn’t for personal gain. He could have take the $30 but refused. Both persons were positively impacted in that encounter.

So today I call us to reflect upon today’s Sacred Gospel reading as it holds out a challenge to us; to give our lives in loving service to others, as Jesus does for us. Christ gives us an invitation and a commandment to serve one another, right now, in our own family, in our places of work, in school, wherever we may be. Let us never forget our humble beginnings and thank God for the opportunities He gives us to serve others.

Deacon Mark Izzo, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness
of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.